Autumn in Haarlem's nature
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Enjoy autumn in Haarlem's nature

Autumn with its beautiful colours and invigorating breeze makes Haarlem and the surrounding areas even more beautiful. Haarlem is a lively town with a population of over 350,000, and once a thriving North Sea trading port. Even though Haarlem…
As of 25 September, we no longer have to stay 1.5 metres from others. The coronavirus entry pass system is being introduced
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Netherlands to reopen further with coronavirus entry pass

As of 25 September, we no longer have to stay 1.5 metres from others. The coronavirus entry pass system is being introduced for locations that will get busier when the 1.5 metre distancing rule is lifted. You can get a coronavirus entry…
free COVID self-testsDimitri Karastelev
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Ordering free COVID self-tests

The Dutch government has announced that between 10 August and 1 September, you can order two free COVID-19 self-tests. Self-testing is an important means of detecting asymptomatic infections. So before going back to work or university after…
Coronavirus vaccinations without appointmentUnsplash
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Coronavirus vaccinations without appointment

Have you not been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet but do you want to? From 17 August 2021, it is possible to go to the vaccination locations in Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer without an appointment for your first corona vaccine dose. As things…
No restrictions for on-site learning but other measures against COVID-19 extendedDaniel Schludi
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No restrictions for on-site learning but other measures against COVID-19 extended

This week saw the 22 millionth dose of vaccine administered. The Netherlands now has high vaccination coverage and the figure is continuing to rise on a daily basis. Nevertheless, a greater increase is still needed. There are still an estimated…
https://unsplash.com/@lukassouza
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Checklist entering or returning to the Netherlands from abroad - August 2021

Good preparation is important for your return trip to the Netherlands. Are you returning to the Netherlands from a yellow EU country on 8 August? Then you need a corona certificate (vaccination, recovery or test proof). Here's the Governments'…
butterfly parks in the netherlands
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The butterfly effect: A butterfly can flap its wings in a park in the Netherlands, and you get people visiting it.

The Netherlands with many picturesque cities around its canals and some very beautiful nature destinations, can enchant its travelers with its many different colors. These can come not only from the tulips, but also from the butterflies that…
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A free virtual vacation game. Enjoy!

I just discovered a way to go on virtual vacation and gain some useful knowledge at the same time!
Since June 5th the Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam presents an interactive TikTok-Museum.Solen Feyissa
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First Tik-Tok-Museum in The Netherlands

Since June 5th the Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam presents an interactive TikTok-Museum. In the museum users of the app can record their videos with about 25 different installations. After the success of the Instagram Experience…
Pentecost 2021 is on the 23th and 24th of June. Here a couple of tips to spend your long weekend.Pexels
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Pentecost 2021 in Holland

Something that intrigued me ever since I first arrived in Holland is the number of Dutch public holidays specifically related to events on the Roman Catholic calendar. It struck me and still does that a fairly non-religious country like the…
Pandemic Getaways
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Wonderful and safe getaways during the pandemic

Since March 2020, the Netherlands has had several different levels of lockdown to control the virus, some of which offer an opportunity to get away for a weekend. Here are my tips on how to responsibly enjoy a holiday in the Netherlands during…
Simpel Award Website of the year 2020!Simple
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Simpel voted Website of the Year 2020

On 26 November, 2020, Simpel was voted the 'Website of the Year 2020' by the Dutch public, making it the overall winner of the 20th edition of this exciting election. The Website of the Year election* is the largest online public award…
Cabinet tightens up measuresMarkus Winkler
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Cabinet tightens up measures to tackle coronavirus

On the evening of 3 November, prime minister Mark Rutte and minister Hugo de Jonge announced new measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to extending the current measures, part of the package of new measures…
Major job losses are imminent at and around Schiphol due to coronaBen Koorengevel on Unsplash
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Major job losses imminent at Schiphol due to coronavirus crisis

Due to the coronavirus crisis, about half of the jobs at and around Schiphol are at risk of disappearing in the short term, the NOS national news website reports. There are about 35,000 job at Schiphol, says the FNV trade union. In addition,…
STAD AMSTERDAM AT THE MARITIME MUSEUMTHE MARITIME MUSEUM AMSTERDAM
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Stad Amsterdam at the Maritime Museum

The clipper Stad Amsterdam will be moored at The National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam until the end of March 2021. The clipper Stad Amsterdam will arrive at The National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam at the beginning of September. After…
Heavily pregnant cow walks into a busy Brabant restaurantDe Brabantse Kluis a
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Heavily pregnant cow walks into a busy Brabant restaurant

Imagine this happens to you ... you are having a nice dinner in a restaurant and suddenly a heavily pregnant cow walks in. This happened on Thursday evening in Brabant's restaurant Herberg De Brabantse Kluis. De Brabantse Kluis at Kloosterdreef …
The CoronaMelder coronavirus app is in an advanced stage of development trialled in several regions in the Netherlands and in multiple languagesGovernment of the Netherlands.Government of the Netherlands
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Dutch CoronaMelder coronavirus app to feature multiple languages

The CoronaMelder coronavirus app is in an advanced stage of development. CoronaMelder is currently being trialled in several regions in the Netherlands and will offer multiple language options, including English, German, Polish and Turkish,…
Beverwijk Bazaar open or partly closed?falco via Pixabay
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Concerns about coronavirus measures at Beverwijk Bazaar

The Veiligheidsregio Kennemerland (Kennemerland Region Security Organisation) has decided to close three halls that are part of the Beverwijk Bazaar, Hall 30 to Hall 33, for two weeks. However, Bazaar Beverwijk entrepreneurs refuse to close…
Testing centre at Schiphol Airport open from this week
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Testing centre at Schiphol Airport open from this week

A testing centre at Schiphol Airport opened on Friday 14 August. This is where travellers returning from high-risk areas can get themselves tested. Read about what that involves. By getting yourself tested for COVID-19 at Schiphol,…
Info face masks mandatory in parts of AmsterdamCity of Amsterdam
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Face masks mandatory in parts of Amsterdam

Since Wednesday 5 August, it has been mandatory for anyone the age of 13 and above to wear a non-medical face mask in parts of Amsterdam city centre. These designated areas have been selected due to there being limited space and where it…
End of heat in sight: showers and thunderstorms and cooler weekendKNMI
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End of heat in sight: showers and thunderstorms and cooler weekend

In a few days, the heatwave that the whole country has been dealing with for a week will end. According to KNMI, after some thunderstorms and rain showers, it will be 'only' 25-28 degrees from Friday.  Today was another hot day in the…
Refilling water bottle more dirty than licking toilet seatPhoto by Kate Joie on Unsplash
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Refilling water bottle more dirty than licking toilet seat

While reusing water bottles is good for the environment, it may not be as good for us. Research has shown that recycled water bottles can contain more bacteria than a toilet seat. For the study, water bottles of athletes were tested to…
There is recurrent car vandalism in the Vijfhoek in Haarlem. Local Municipality and Police are aware of the situation but do nothing. The citizens pay the fee of this uncontrolled vandalism.
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Car vandalism in the Vijfhoek

Last Friday morning my car was damaged in de Vijfhoek. The perpetrator has fled. Local residents say that trucks very regularly do not easily make the bend in the Gedempte Raamgracht, damage a car and flee. The Municipality of Haarlem and the…
The Netherlands officially has the first national heat wave of the yearGerd Altmann via Pixabay
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First official national heat wave of the year

The Netherlands officially has the first national heat wave of the year. Around 10 a.m. a temperature of 25 degrees was measured in De Bilt. To be classed as a nationwide heatwave, the De Bilt weather station must record a five-day period…
Connexxion: This weekend extra buses from Haarlem to Zandvoort beachCreative Commons CC0 1.0 Universele Public Domain Dedication
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Connexxion: This weekend extra buses from Haarlem to Zandvoort beach

Connexxion will run more buses this weekend from Haarlem to the beach at Zandvoort. The transport company says that they learned a lesson from last Friday, when it was overcrowded in the buses on the way to the sea. This weekend there…
Greenjoy Boat Renting Summer 2020: Special € 20 Discount for expatsHaarlem readers
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Greenjoy Boat Renting Summer 2020: Special € 20 Discount for expatsHaarlem readers

Wow, it’s amazing.. SUNNY WEATHER IN THE NETHERLANDS! Can you believe it? Why not making the most of it then? The weather forecast seems to be pretty awesome for the coming week! Let's hope even weeks! Are you – like many others – eager…
Dutch safari girafferoyalty free (author's own pic)
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Go on safari 1.5 hours’ drive away from Haarlem

If you opted for a 'staycation' and are looking for ideas of what to do, why not head to Tilburg for an educational outdoor adventure? Go on safari right here in the Netherlands, exploring nature, getting some fresh air and coming face-to-face…
cyclingroyalty free (reuse possible without attribution)
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Get on Your Bike for Rondje Haarlem: The Most Stunning Cycle Route

Hey you! Are you, like me, feeling the wanderlust growing as days pass by? Have you, too, reached that uncomfortable point, where you really need to get out and about for some kind of adventure, even if just for an afternoon, but don’t quite…
Yellow heartsHaarlem Marketing
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Yellow heart markings in Haarlem

Now that the city is reviving and more people are on the move, the message to keep 1.5 meter distance from other persons and avoid crowds will continue. That is why yellow heart markings have been applied in Haarlem to remind visitors this message…
weather pentecosthttps://www.theweathernetwork.com/
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Summer weather during and over Pentecost weekend

The summer weather, with plenty of sunshine and some cloud, is set to continue during and over the Pentecost weekend, with even higher temperatures next week, according to KNMI (the Dutch national weather service). On Friday it's sunny…